3 Sisters take on F&WF - Trip report starts on post 22

[Donald is #1]

Hi everyone! I figure that maybe if I start a pre-trip report, then it will force me to actually write a trip report. Well time will tell.

So first of all, who are the players?
1) Me -- WDW fanatic; female who is now getting closer to mid-40's than early 40's; multiple trips to the world
2) DSis#1 -- Not a WDW fanatic; in her early 40's
3) DSis#2 -- aka PrincessPower; WDW fanatic; only been there once; just turned 40

OK what kind of background shall I give?

Previous trips
First I will start with previous trips. First of all, we never went to WDW as kids. It was just too expensive for our parents to take the 3 of us to WDW. So, my first trip came the year after I graduated from college. I went down with my best friend from high school & college and her sister. This was the "on-the-cheap" trip and we had an incredible time. That was the start of my love affair with Disney!
So after taking a another trip or 2 to WDW, DSis#1's son was getting older and I wanted to take him. So, DSis#1, her son (8 at the time?), and I went down for about a week in December of 2000. Now, DSis#1 isn't a WDW fanatic but we all had a great time. We even decided to do a a DCL cruise in 2004.
Now fast forward until 2006. DSis#2 was planning her first trip to WDW with her family. She was going with her husband, 2 kids (niece 8, nephew 9) and her in-laws. Well as she was planning, I was starting to feel the WDW itch again. And since I hadn't taken a vacation that year, I really needed to get away. So after a while, I decided to tag along on DSis#2's trip. This trip was for 8 days and I spent about 1/2 my time with DSis#2 and 1/2 my time solo. This trip was during Food & Wine Festival and I had an awesome time at F&WF.

Why are our ages important?
So, why is it important that I mentioned that we are all in our 40's? Well, maybe it isn't, but, when I was first turning 40, we decided that we should go away for a weekend just by ourselves without kids, husbands, etc. Well, after some planning and talking aboit it, it never happened. Then DSis#1 was turning 40 and we talked about a trip again. Again, it didn't happen. Well now, DSis#2 has turned 40 and we are finally taking the trip. The difference is that it went from a 1 night trip to 4 night!

How did the trip come about?
Well, during my May solo trip (see the link in my signature for details), I bought into the DVC. I bought into AKV and was planning on not taking my next WDW vacation until 2008 because I just went for 12 days in May plus I had a trip to Yellowstone planned for September (just came back a week ago). Anyways, I decided to do an add-on for more points at the end of June. OK.. the plot thickens here. Well, they are now running the Double Developer's Points incentive. Hmmm.... Where will this go?
So, anyways, I am talking to DSis#1 and I told her that she really needs to go to F&WF with me some year. I know that she will enjoy this because she loves to try different foods, as do I.
So she asks 'When are you going?"
My reply "Probably not until next year."
DSis#1 "When is it?"
Me "It is in October"
DSis#1 "How about going this year?"

OK all you WDW fanatics, you know that I am hooked now. It's time to start planning a trip to WDW. My mind starts whirring. Let's see, if we go before 10/21, then my AP will still be valid. OK, decision made!

So the next decisions end up being: Will DSis#1 commit to going and will she take DNephew#1 (now 15). So I wait a week and then ask DSis#1 if she really wants to go. I want her commitment because I hadn't done my add-on yet and it would impact whether I picked the Double Developer's Points or the cash incentive. So, when I talk to Dsis#1 she says yes she is going. And then she decides that it will just be the 2 of us. She decided that she was going to leave Dnephew#1 at home for this trip and take him in the Spring. (Actually they will be going to VB in Feb.) Ok first decision made.
So, now DSis#2 finds out the Dnephew#1 isn't coming and she starts thinking "Hmmm maybe I should go too!".

Anyways, ok the decision has been made. So I buy my add-on and take the Double Developer's Points. Now, since I was already taking 2 vacations this year, I wanted to minimize the number of vacation days. So we decided to do a long weekend (Thursday -> Monday). So, with my developer's points, I call for a reservation and was able to book a 1 bedroom at SSR for the weekend of 10/11 - 10/15. The next week, DSis#2 decides to come. So now there are 3 of us. Since I am using my developer's points, I decided to splurge so that we would each have our own bed and I changed our reservation from a 1 br to a 2 br. We ended up at OKW. So, now we have a 2 br villa for only 3 of us. Plus the 2 br's at OKW are actually larger than my townhouse!

I'll post some more later.

Links to the trip report
Day 1 - Post 22
Day 1, Part 2 - Post 23
Day 1, Part 3 - Post 24
Day 1, Part 4 - Post 25
Day 1, Part 5 - Post 26
Day1, Completion - Post 27

 

[Donald is #1]

Flight:
Well, although we live in 3 different states, this in New England. So in reality, the furthest drive is between my house and DSis#1 (about 1.5 hours). So we decided to fly together. DSis#2 and I were on the phone together and on our computers so that we could book our tickets. I booked both mine and DSis#1's ticket. We were able to get a non-stop mid-morning Jet Blue flight for us. So we will be at MCO on our first day at 1:00. This means that we can actually hit EPCOT that night!


Itinerary:
Well, our plans are pretty simple. The whole point of this trip is the F&WF. Now, to keep costs down, we decided not to do any of the special events. We will basically spend 3 full days in EPCOT and come 11 AM, spend most of our time in WS eating & drinking our way through WS. When I bought that tickets for my sisters, I did buy park hoppers because I don't want us to be trapped if we decide to hop over to another park. So our main plan is just EPCOT (my favorite park) but I wouldn't be surprised if we decide to head over to MK or AK at least part of 1 day.

To ME or not ME?:
OK, now for the big question: Should we ME or not? Well, originally, DSis#1 was thinking about going to WDW in Feb '08 with her husband & son. So I decided to use ME for this trip so that she could see how it works. Of course, it helped that when I checked the car rental rates, they were fairly high!
So I booked ME for all 3 of us. This was in July. Now towards the end of July, DSis#1 decides that she is going to go to VB instead of WDW in Feb 08. So I booked VB for her and really didn't think to much about the transportation for our October trip.
Background: I used ME for my Oct '06 trip with DSis#2. It worked well. The only real drawback was that on my return to the airport, the bus made an extra stop and it really was cutting it a tad closer than I would like. Please note that it really wasn't that close, but I am one of those people who would prefer to be in the airport early and read at the gate instead of worrying standing in line. Also I tend to feel trapped if I don't have a rental car even if I don't use it.
So fast forward to the end of August. I am talking to DSis#2 about my trip in a couple of days to Yellowstone. I happen to mention that I hadn't checked rental car prices for October in a while. After I get off the phone, I decided to check the car rental rates. Well I go on Hertz and the AAA rate for that weekend is much lower. So I book the car.
So the answer finally is: I ended up renting a car for a 5 day trip.

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, now that I have joined DVC, I have basically decided that I will probably do 2 vacations a year at Disney: one week long or so and one long weekend. That being said, as I have been reading these boards, the Owner's Locker definately caught my eye.

After talking about it with DSis#2 a couple of times, I finally decided to sign up for it. First, I made sure that my sisters can use it also if they go down.

So now the big question: What do I put in the locker?

My list so far is:
1) Laundry detergent & fabric softener (will buy down in FL)
2) Extra pair of sneakers (WDW is the only place that I take 2 pairs of sneakers)
3) Sweatshirt (I will buy one in WDW & leave it there)
4) Hat (Will probably bring from home)
5) Sunscreen (again, will bring from home since I have a new bottle)
6) Full size shampoo
7) Corkscrew (already with my stuff to pack)

OK... Does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[Donald is #1]

Well currently we only have 1 ADR and I just made that 2 nights ago.

When we were first planning the trip, I asked everyone if they wanted ADRs and they both said no. Our plan has been that we were just going to eat at the food booths. Now, this is a good plan because for the most part, that is what I did last year.

However, I also noticed last year that Epcot got really crowded by late afternoon on Saturday. And by Saturday night, I found that the lines for the food booths were longer than I wanted to stand in.

So DSis#2 and I were talking Friday night we decided to make an ADR for Saturday night. We talked about either Raglan Road or Bomas and decided upon Bomas. Since we now have a car it will be easy to get to AKL plus they will be able to look around at AKL while we are there. Now DSis#1 is the person who really wants to concentrate on eating at the food booths. Plus she remembers our trip in 2000 when you could pretty much walk into any TS place and get a table. So DSis#2 and I decided to make the ADR and then if DSis#1 decides that she wants to stay at EPCOT and the rest of us decide that we want to leave, only the 2 of us will have dinner. I did make the reservation for 3 just in case DSis#1 decides that she wants to come with us. I figure that we can wait until even 5 or 6 in the evening on that Saturday to make our decision since we can drive to EPCOT that day.

 

[Donald is #1]

OK, so yesterday when I was doing my weekly grocery shopping, I started getting stuff for my Owner's Locker. I was buying stuff like a sewing kit, crystal light single serving packets, toilletries, first aid stuff, plastic zipper bags, etc. So anyways, as I am in the grocery store, it dawns on me that I really don't need to buy the stuff now because I am going to go shopping when I arrive down in FL anyways (to get water, laundry detergent, snacks, etc.). So do I put the stuff back and decide to buy it in FL?

No! Of course not, I even then drive over to Walmart and buy more stuff. Does this make any sense????

 

[Donald is #1]

So after my shopping trip on Sunday, here is my current list:


1) Laundry detergent & fabric softener (will buy down in FL)
2) Extra pair of sneakers (WDW is the only place that I take 2 pairs of sneakers)
3) Sweatshirt (I will buy one in WDW & leave it there)
4) Hat (Will probably bring from home)
5) Sunscreen (again, will bring from home since I have a new bottle)
6) Full size shampoo
7) Corkscrew (already with my stuff to pack)
8) Sewing kit
9) Scissors
10) first aid stuff: various size bandages, hydrocortisone, etc
11) foot care stuff: moleskin, Ben Gay, body glide
12) empty slide lock bags
13) bleach tablets to clean jetted tubs
14) batteries

Does anyone have other suggestions? I still have 3 weekends to buy stuff in NH that I could just as easily buy in FL.

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, not too much has changed in our itineray. But since we added our one ADR, I figured that I would post an update.

Official Itinerary: (PrincessPower, go ahead and make changes or other suggstions)

Thursday (Oct 11):
6:30 AM -- Meet at DSis#2's house
6:45 AM -- Get picked up by the van service
approx 8:00 AM -- Arrive at Logan airport
9:50 AM -- Non-stop flight for MCO (I Jet Blue!)
12:50 PM -- Arrive at MCO, get our bags and get on Hertz shuttle to get our car
2:30 PM or so -- Arrive at OKW & hopefully check in
3:00 PM -- Go to grocery store (my sisters may head to the park now)
4:00 PM or so -- Head to Epcot!!!

Lunch: I am not sure yet. We may pick up something at OKW or we may just wait until we get to EPCOT
Dinner: F&WF booths at EPCOT

Friday (Oct 12):
8:30-8:45 AM -- Get to EPCOT for opening
9:00 AM -- Go on Soaring plus probably get FP for it. If we are a little late, then get FP and do something else.
9:00 - 11:00 AM -- Wonder around Future World doing whatever we want (after Thursday's Itinerary, you probably thought that I would have everything planned to the minute, didn't you? )
11:00 & on -- Here we get to enjoy the WS & F&WF taking our time since we have 3 days here.
EMH: I don't know if we will do EMH or not. We will probably get the wrsit bands and then decide whether we are tired or not.

Saturday:
8:30 AM -- Drive to EPCOT. Get to EPCOT for opening (someone may want to sleep in. In that case we will meet up at the park)
9:00 - 11:00 AM -- Continue visiting FW
11:00 - 6:00 PM -- Continue touring WS & F&WF
6:00 PM -- Drive to AKL
6:30 - 7:30 Wander around AKL
7:30 -- Dinner at BOMAs!
After dinner: Head back to AKL but we could also decide to head to MK since it is open until midnight.

Sunday:
9:00 or so -- Go to EPCOT, finish FW
11:00 or so until 9 PM-- Head to WS & continue with F&WF

Monday:
Sleep in a bit & pack
Around 9:30 or 10, head to the RAC at OKW and check in/drop off our bags.
Around 11:00 -- Head to airport & drop off car at Hertz

1:30 PM -- Flight leaves MCO for Logan
4:33 PM -- Land at Logan, get our bags and find our van
approx 7:00 PM Arrive at DSis#2's house


Possible changes:
1) DSis#2 & I would like to go to DTD for World of Disney and the Pin Station. Most likely we will either do it Thursday afternoon or sometime on Sunday.
2) Will we go to any other parks? Possibly on Sunday, we may decide to go to either AK or MK for part of the day and then finish the day at EPCOT. Since we don't have any ADRs besides BOMAs, we can play this by ear.

 

[Donald is #1]

So, I was finally (!) unpacking from my Yellowstone trip on Sunday. Yes, I have been back for 2 weeks, but the suitcase and duffle bags were still in the living room minus the clothes. As I was unpacking and bringing the bags back upstairs, I put the bags of stuff that I had bought for my owner's locker in the suitcase. Well, lifting it up, I realized how heavy it was. So now I am thinking that I may have to check a second bag (medium size duffle bag) just to carry my stuff for the owner's locker! I guess that if I actually do that, I will have plenty of space to bring home stuff.

Well, I was telling DSis#1 about this on Sunday night and her comment was "Can't you buy that stuff in FL?" sad2: She just doesn't get it sometimes. ) Of course, I tell her yes but that still didn't keep me from buying the stuff here.

 

[Donald is #1]

So, I was talking to DSis#1 last night about the trip and she says that she may want to go to either AK or MGM also. Now, her idea of touring Disney is similar to mine. Sorry all of you planners, but we like to play it by ear a bit. So for now, our itineray will stay with going to EPCOT each day, but most likely, we will do some hopping to at least one of the other parks. I purposely bought my sisters hopper tickets so that we can decide to change parks and not have to worry about it.

After hearing about some of my solo vacations at WDW and other places, DSis#1 really wants to spend some time on her own. So we will probably split up for 1/2 a day or so and DSis#2 and I will do something else. Hmmm maybe we can make it over to check out Haunted Mansion.


On the Food & Wine Festival front, I was over the on F&WF thread and found a link to cards that one of the members has made for the food booths. So, I printed them out tonight! I only printed 2 per page so I have 26 pages of them! It will be interesting to see if I actually use them!

 

[yearbook50]

Just found this!

Sounds like a great trip! You are as bad as me with timing plans.

I'll be at Epcot on the 12th and 13th. So if you see me by myself on the 12th, feel free to say hi!. Or on the 13th, I may be carrying my mother so I'm sure we'll be a riot. (Although, 3 sisters together you guys may be more of a riot!)

 

[Donald is #1]

Just found this!

Sounds like a great trip! You are as bad as me with timing plans.

I'll be at Epcot on the 12th and 13th. So if you see me by myself on the 12th, feel free to say hi!. Or on the 13th, I may be carrying my mother so I'm sure we'll be a riot. (Although, 3 sisters together you guys may be more of a riot!)

Awesome! By the way, you may recognize DSis#2 if you see her since she works at WPI.

 

[yearbook50]

Awesome! By the way, you may recognize DSis#2 if you see her since she works at WPI.

What does she do there?

 

[Donald is #1]

What does she do there?

She is a receptionist in Financial Aid.

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, since I only have 1 more weekend before I leave, I decided that maybe I should start doing something to get ready. So I finally sat down and organized the pins that I had bought on EBAY for pin trading. OK, I was a bit anal retentive about it this time. I ended up splitting the pins up into zipper bags with 20 pins each. I have definitely gone too far! No, I just need to figure out how many of the bags to take with me for a 4 park days trip. Hmm... Do I just take all of them? Or do I just take some of them? I ended up with 6 bags of 20 each. Yes, I have been doing a lot of buying on EBAY! The only thing I don't like about my pins this time is that they are mostly Hidden Mickey/Cast Lanyards ones. On my last trip, I had mostly non-Hidden Mickey/Cast lanyard pins. But most of the lots that I have seen recently have been exclusives Hidden Mickey/Cast Lanyard. The reason that I like the other pins is that I tend to trade for the Hidden Mickey/Cast Lanyards ones. So it seems strange to trade one for another.

Another thing that I am considering is whether I will bring a second lanyard just in case one of my sisters wants to trade. Of course the real question is: Will I drive my sisters over the edge with my trading?

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, we leave in less than a week!

I just checked the weather and the word is : hot! The weather looks like it will be 85-90! Hopefully everyone will be prepared for the heat.

I just started putting my carry-on together. I will have it packed with everything except for my prescriptions by the end of the weekend. Then I will probably pack my suitcase on Tuesday night. I normally pack a day early, so that I can think about what I packed and then rearrange/make changes the night before I leave.

 

[yearbook50]

Well, we leave in less than a week!

I just checked the weather and the word is : hot! The weather looks like it will be 85-80! Hopefully everyone will be prepared for the heat.
.

Thats great to hear! I like hot and sunny weather!

Have a great trip!

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, I had been trying to find us spots on either an Illuminations or a Wishes cruise. So, after posting my request a couple of times, I decided that it just wasn't in the cards.

Tonight, I jsut got a PM from someone with 3 spots available on an Illuminations cruise. Unfortunately, it is the same night as our Boma reservation. So, now, what should we do?

I called both of my sister to get their opinion. So far, I have only spoken with DSis#1. She votes for dinner. Hmmm... Which way will it go?

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, I spoke to both of my sisters and we have decided to keep our Boma reservations for Saturday night and not do the illuminations cruise.

We are now only 4 days away!!!! Only 3 more work days until Food & Wine Festival!

 

[Donald is #1]

Hi my name is Donald is #1 and I have a problem ...... I am an overpacker!

So, I just packed my suitcase and I definitely overpacked! We will only be gone for 5 days and I ended up packing 2-3 extra shirts and 3 pairs of shorts. Now, if you remember we are staying in a 2 bedroom. So we have a washer and dryer in case we need to do laundry. But I still packed extra clothes.
Oh well, at least I pack less than I used to.


Only 1 more work day until we leave!

 

[yearbook50]

Have a great trip and safe travels!